Grateful for Rodents

  

  
Cumquat and Babushka have been members of our house for well over a month now, but we are still getting acquainted. Holding them on your lap is a special treat for all the Bowerbirds, mum and dad included. 

What's to love about guinea pigs

• They make the best noises when they are happy, and chat away with adorable squeaks and rumbles. Think Zuzu pets only better.
• Their fur is wondrously soft and so soothing to pat.
• They can be trained.  The big Bowerbird is having some success teaching them to come to her lap when called.
• They are seriously cute - those big whiskers and little button noses are so sweet.
• They are cheap to feed - we have abundant excess produce to share with them.
• They are fun to feed. They will happily be hand fed, and the little Bowerbird loves going on a garden hunt to find them new things to eat. They make gorgeous happy sounds when you put some fresh greens in their cage.
• They are very forgiving.  The little Bowerbird is not always the best guinea pig handler but they have never responded with a scratch or nip.
• They lick - those little tongues are forever seeking salt.
• They are wonderfully social. They talk to each other, snuggle together, jump and dive with each other, and huddle in their bark cave together when frightened.
• They are making great material for our compost bin.
• They are teaching a great lesson to our eldest, who is their owner, in how to care for pets and be responsible. She is now a walking encyclopaedia of guinea pig facts. Did you know they are a species of rodent?

  

  

  

What's not to love about guinea pigs. 

• They have absolutely no qualms about weeing and pooing on you. I managed to get wee on my back during our first patting session - thoroughly unexpected and not a pleasant experience.  A towel is necessary to have around at all times. Fortunately this is a rarer event now that we know their ways - note to self, do not let a guinea pig climb around your top.
• Cage Cleaning. It's remarkable how much wee and poo two little critters can generate. The big Bowerbird has stayed true to her word and has cleaned the cage every couple of days since their arrival. There are a few extra old towels to wash, and a few extra clothes that have suffered their mishaps, but nothing major to add to the housework.

source

Did you know there is a Peruvian Guinea Pig Festival where they dress the guinea pigs up in fancy clothing? I won't show you the pictures of what comes later.

Grateful for our new additions.

Linking up with Maxabellas 

Grateful for 40

You can create leaf graffiti on the fountain in Melbourne's City square, it's addictive.

Always a blinker

 

http://www.circusoz.com

 

Grateful for a birthday weekend that was so big it won't fit in one post.  Grateful to have a man turning 40 in my life, despite his foolish smoking ways. 40 sounds so grown up, big enough to stop with the puffing that's for sure.  Grateful to have found him and spent the last 22 years together. Grateful for an excellent weekend - 40 times grateful.


Grateful for

1. A trip to the city - such a delight for we country mice. 
2. Easy cheap parking.
3. The sparkling city skyline
4. The meandering brown Yarra linking the country to the city.
5. Elevators and escalators that still totally rock our children's socks
6. Good coffee and delicious donuts and Danish overlooking the Yarra
7. Edamame and Miso at Chocolate Buddha
8. Lemon scented gum trees
9. A sense of adventure
10. Tall bells chiming in front of a beautiful tent
11. Finding cheap tickets to Circus Oz on Ebay and then discovering those tickets were front and centre, the best in the house.
12. Enjoying amazing stunts, acrobats, acting, costumes, magic and music. An excellent show that celebrated diversity and multiculturalism
13. Green grassy hills, so perfect for rolling down
14. Sunshine and clear skies in the middle of winter
15. Happy healthy children, and parents, for a whole weekend
16. Rainbows and double rainbows
17. A golden sunset
18. A Festival of Light
19. Lanterns, beautifully made by children and given out for free
20. A lantern dance to celebrate the winter solstice
21. Sculpture, especially a gleaming metallic flying saucer
22. Large paved surfaces and fake grass - a novel new play area for the kids
23. Art, art and more art. Drawing on pictures in the gallery with textas (see next post).
24. Free delicious lentil soup sipped near a campfire
25. Big drums played loud and well
26. A game of Carrom and enjoying the spirit of sharing with many cultures
27. An amazing Melbourne event - The Light in Winter- one to be proud of
28. A sleeping child
29. A quiet moment
30. Sushi trains and the joy they bring our children, the littlest devoured a whole bowl full of seaweed salad.
31. Good wine.
32. A lovely hotel - found after agonising over the bewildering array of choices. Lots of space and a comfy bed. You would not believe how hard it is to find a room for a family of five in the city. 
33. Waking to magnificent city views, a first for us.  We always get the bargain rooms that look out onto carparks.  We could see the sea and all the way to the hills of our home.
34. A swim with all the Bowerbirds
35. More good coffee and pastries - there was a lot of eating and a lot of walking.
36. Royal Arcade, especially Babushkas, the smell of chocolate and the games and toy stores.
37. The shot tower in Melbourne Central and a little vintage market lurking inside. There were even vintage clothes in Sportsgirl, real  - old ones, who would have though the day would come?
38. The strums of guitars and the sweet smell of donuts at the Vic Market. A visit to a pet store that has everything, from scorpions to hopping mice and Nemo.
39. The free city circle tram arriving to rescue worn out feet and the kind man who smiled and was happy to share his seat.
40. A 3.00pm lunch that sounded a little exotic for our children's palates, and was definitely a little late for their temperaments, but turned out to be perfect. The little Bowerbird said of the polenta chips "these are the best chips ever!" Great staff and a perfect end to the weekend at The Mess Hall.

I could really go on, such an indulgently good weekend.

Linking with Maxabella Loves 52 Weeks of Grateful

 

 Happy 40th Birthday Stephen, glad I got to share it with you.